Agenda

Day 01
Day 02
Day 03

Day 01 - 7 June 2023

14.00-14.30

Registration and welcome coffee

14.30-15.00

Welcoming and EIHA Board introduction

15.00-16.00

EIHA General Meeting

1.Adoption of the agenda and introduction
2.Board & responsibilities
 3.Agriculture
  • Seeds directive and position on varietal registration
  • Euromonitor market study
4.Fibre/shives
  • Policies impacting the bioeconomy sector.
  • WG Construction feedbacks on CE marking
  • Actions on Construction products regulation
  • Nova Institute Study on carbon capture

16.00-16.30

Break

16.30-18.00

EIHA General Meeting

5.Cannabinoids
  • Consultation request under Article 4 of the Novel Food Regulation in Czech Republic: current status and next steps
  • New entry for Cannabis sativa L. in the NF Catalogue: effects on the market and future perspectives
  • CosIng discussion paper: Member States inputs, CSSC call for data, and strategy.
  • Novel Food Applications update (Synthetic CBD, CBD Isolate, Full Spectrum Extracts)
  • QR code: discussion with members 
  • Strategy for CBD as feed additive
6.Food
  • Measurement of Uncertainty for THC in food: EIHA’s request for clarifications to DG SANTE. Feedbacks from the market & discussion with members.
  • Protein strategy: EIHA‘s contribution
  • THC clinical trial
7.AOB

18.00-19.00

Break

19.00-21.00

Networking dinner

Day 02 - 8 June 2023

08.30-09.00

Registration and welcome coffee

09.00-09.15

Welcoming and introduction

Daniel Kruse

Daniel Kruse, a pioneer of the hemp industry for more than 26 years, is founder and managing director of Hempro International GmbH and HempConsult GmbH, two of Europe`s leading hemp players. Kruse has more than 16 years of experience in hemp food production.

Hempro Int. (founded in 2002), one of Europe’s first and largest hemp food companies, produces raw material (seeds, hulled nuts, oil, protein) and offers branded hemp foods under the HANF FARM label.

Based on a strong international network HempConsult (founded 2012) follows industry trends and developments on the global hemp markets, conducts market research and serves entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors and other stakeholders of the industry as a consultant for the development of strategic goals and their successful and sustainable implementation.

Since 2013, Kruse has served as a board member of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). In 2019, he was elected president of EIHA for the first time and re- elected for another term in 2021.

At the EIHA Kruse is particularly active in his field of knowledge of cannabinoids in foods. Already since 2002 he has been working on the topic of THC in food and on CBD since 2012. His cooperation with international experts and the advisory committee of EIHA combines the profound know-how from practice and science in the hemp and food industry. In course of this cooperation, various position papers and studies on THC and CBD in food have been drawn up and published.

Kruse represents industrial hemp stakeholders in front of the European Union and German governments, where his work has helped to advance the legal and regulatory framework for the hemp industry.

Trained as a banker, Kruse studied finance at Green Bay University in Wisconsin (USA) and Duesseldorf (Germany). He opened “HanfHaus,” a retail hemp retail shop in 1996, and in 1999 became Head of Sales as well as partner at HanfHaus GmbH in Berlin. Kruse founded Hempro International in 2002 to advance the development of hemp products, and to realise his vision: the successful combination of ecology and economy.

cath

Lorenza Romanese

Lorenza is the Managing Director of EIHA. Based in EIHA’s Brussels office, Lorenza is an experienced policy advisor and communication manager at the European level. She has led EIHA’s efforts in Brussels since February 2019, having worked with a number of MEPs to propose reforms affecting hemp in the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy. Lorenza previously advised interests in the oil and gas sector and led the European Association of independent Winegrowers.

Lorenza helped to put together in November 2019 a Consortium of companies in EIHA conducting CBD and THC toxicological studies in humans and animals. She is currently overseeing parts of the regulatory process and scientific approach.

Lorenza was appointed in March 2022 as co-chair of the policy and regulation committee of FIHO (Federation of International Hemp Organizations), a global association that identifies and creates opportunities to scale sustainable hemp production, marketing, and trade.

09.15-10.30

Establishing hemp ecosystems around Europe

Moderator

Francesco Mirizzi

Currently responsible for agriculture, bioeconomy and environmental policies at the European Industrial Hemp Association, Francesco has a 10 years long experience in working with agrofood policies in Brussels. After 2 years in the liaison office of Puglia region to the EU, he joined the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission for a bluebook traineeship. After two years working for Pernod Ricard SA on health, trade and agricultural policies affecting the spirits and wine sector, he gained a more horizontal and extensive experience within the European Federation of Farmers and Farming Cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca), where he was responsible for the olive & olive oil, flax, cotton, hemp, spirits, wine and hops sectors.

Speakers

Hana Gabrielovà

Hana Gabrielová is a 20-year veteran within the hemp industry. In 2010 she establish her company Hempoint s.r.o. which is heavily engaged in distribution of EU registered hemp seed varieties internationally, in North America represented by USA company konopiUS. Hempoint provides consulting on all steps of the hemp value chain from farming, processing till the end of different kinds of products. Hempoint help contracts farmers and also distributes organic hemp food and feed ingredients. Hana works also as president of the CzecHemp cluster since 2018, NGO involved in the strategy of hemp and cannabis policy development in the Czech Republic. In 2020 she co-founded Hemp the Climate, pioneering non-profit organization and think tank that provides strategic advice to businesses and collaborates with multilateral and non-governmental organizations to accelerate the use of hemp for climate resilience.

Estelle Delangle

After studying political science and international relations, she started her career nearly 20 years ago in the European cooperation sphere, working for 12 years at the Assembly of European Regions in Strasbourg. She developed an expertise on structural funds, CAP et more widely European funding, especially on the topics of territorial economic development. She has a sound experience in European cooperation and project management, strengthened by 4 years managing research projects for the French institute for maritime and oceanic research (IFREMER). She jumped into the hemp arena in 2020 to coordinate the creation of the European Hemp Pole in Troyes. Now that the European Hemp Pole has been created, she is in charge of structuring, deploying and enlarging the hemp ecosystem in the Great Eastern Region and beyond, thanks to a cooperative and eco-systemic approach.

Otilia Frolu

Otilia Frolu is currently managing the cluster Caneparo for industrial hemp in Romania, setup in 2022. She has got a professional background in financing and policies, having been worked in governmental financing, banking industry, and financial communication, with extensive experience in structuring and financing complex projects in virtually all sectors, for all types of beneficiaries, and also in designing regulatory improvements and reform implementation. Since 2019 Otilia has taken an entrepreneurial path, getting involved in structuring projects for developing supply chains and local development. In industrial hemp she was involved in setting up the project of InnoTech Center for hemp processing and innovation of hemp-based products, along with some members of Caneparo. She has got dual education in economics and in finance, with an MA in Development Economics in Williams College, Center for Development Economics, USA and MSc in Finance at London Business School.

Caneparo is member of EIHA, HempClub – a COSME funded project supporting building ecosystems in the hemp sector, European Clusters Cooperation Platform, and European Enterprise Network.

Marijn Roersch van der Hoogte

Marijn Roersch van der Hoogte, Biologist from the Netherlands. Living in Berlin for more that 10 years. Active in the German Cannabis Industry since 2014, with primary focus on food and building materials. Working as a Consultant for Agriculture and Processing, Co-Founder of Hemp-Impact.com, Co-Founder and Vice-President of the German Hemp Business Association BvCW and active Member of the Nutzhanf Netzwerk e.V. (Industrial Hemp Network in Germany).

Jamie Bartley

Jamie Bartley is the CEO of the Unyte Group and also Chairs the Cannabis Industry Councils Hemp subgroup, working closely with the UK Government via the APPG for Industrial Hemp and CBD products. Having launched the group in 2019, with a diverse set of business units covering Hemp, Energy, Waste and Medicinal, the focus has always been the improvement of human and planetary health. Jamie’s passion is about impact at scale, as this is the only way we will achieve the net zero targets, therefore focussing on the decarbonisation of construction products and bio char as scalable solutions that Hemp can provide.

Debate / Q&A

10.30-11.00

Break

11.00-12.00

Investing in the hemp sector

Moderator
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Lorenza Romanese

Lorenza is the Managing Director of EIHA. Based in EIHA’s Brussels office, Lorenza is an experienced policy advisor and communication manager at the European level. She has led EIHA’s efforts in Brussels since February 2019, having worked with a number of MEPs to propose reforms affecting hemp in the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy. Lorenza previously advised interests in the oil and gas sector and led the European Association of independent Winegrowers.

Lorenza helped to put together in November 2019 a Consortium of companies in EIHA conducting CBD and THC toxicological studies in humans and animals. She is currently overseeing parts of the regulatory process and scientific approach.

Lorenza was appointed in March 2022 as co-chair of the policy and regulation committee of FIHO (Federation of International Hemp Organizations), a global association that identifies and creates opportunities to scale sustainable hemp production, marketing, and trade.

Speakers

Roberto Rivero

Roberto is Chief Operating Officer of Cosmonauts, Chairman of Legal-Tech company Vable, Board Advisor to Embedded Finance company Lerex and Chairman of the Board of Advisors at Nottingham University Business School.

His previous roles include:

  • Head of Sales & Marketing, London Stock Exchange
  • Head of Market Development (EMEA), S&P Global
  • Head of Product Management, Primark (now part of Refinitiv)
  • Founder & CEO, Intelligent Growth
  • Founder & Chairman, Pelican Investments.

He holds a degree in Economics and an MBA and has completed complementary courses at London Business School, Columbia, NYU Stern, Bocconi and INSEAD.

In his spare time, Roberto is Angel Investor and volunteers as a Mentor at several incubators.

Geoff Trotter

Geoff brings more than thirty-five years of executive-level experience to Regennabis having lived in Europe, Asia-Pacific and now the Americas – undertaking numerous CxO roles in the for-Profit sector [with The Thomson Corporation, Diageo / Guinness World Records, Ernst & Young (serving as a Partner & Chief Knowledge Officer for EY in the Asia-Pacific region) and Sustainable Brands] as well as in the not-for-Profit sector [as the founding consultant with KMPact, an Independent Consultancy focusing on Organisational Capacity Building] – and has spent a significant part of his career on solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Geoff relocated to the Bay Area in 2011, initially to study at Presidio Graduate School, before joining Global Footprint Network, a science-based NGO operating out of Oakland, USA, and Geneva, Switzerland in 2012 as their VP of Operations.

Geoff is a graduate of Sheffield City Polytechnic [now “Sheffield Hallam University”] in the UK where he studied for an Honors Degree in Metallurgy, Microstructural Engineering & Material Science.  He also holds a postgraduate qualification in International Marketing from London’s University of the Arts.

Whilst an advocate of both social & environmental issues facing all of us today, Geoff is firmly in the “Business of Sustainability” and is passionate about assisting cross-sector collaboration in the Cannabis Industry through innovation in Sustainability Development.

Jacek Kramarz

A graduate of the University of Economics in Krakow, he started off as a securities broker and developed his career in the strategic consulting industry. He is one of the first pioneers of the hemp industry in Poland. In 2015 he co-founded HemPoland – the first private company to deal with the cultivation and processing of hemp in Poland. As a partner managing business development, sales and marketing, he helped the company achieve PLN 30 million in revenue and build a strong distribution network across 17 countries. In 2018 he participated in the sale of HemPoland to a publicly listed Canadian company. In 2019 he was elected by members of the Board of Directors of the European Industrial Hemp Association – the oldest and largest hemp organization in Europe.

Experience:

  • 6 years in the Hemp Industry
  • 15 years in the Investment Industry
  • 6 years in Sales & Business Development
  • 10 years in Project Management & Team Building

12.00-14.30

Networking lunch

14.30-15.45

Stalk processing technologies

Moderator

Francesco Mirizzi

Currently responsible for agriculture, bioeconomy and environmental policies at the European Industrial Hemp Association, Francesco has a 10 years long experience in working with agrofood policies in Brussels. After 2 years in the liaison office of Puglia region to the EU, he joined the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission for a bluebook traineeship. After two years working for Pernod Ricard SA on health, trade and agricultural policies affecting the spirits and wine sector, he gained a more horizontal and extensive experience within the European Federation of Farmers and Farming Cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca), where he was responsible for the olive & olive oil, flax, cotton, hemp, spirits, wine and hops sectors.

Speakers

Janwillem de Kam

Janwillem de Kam is CEO of Vepa the furniture factory.

Since 1951 Vepa has evolved into one of the most versatile and sustainable manufacturers of office and project furniture in the Netherlands.

We have repeatedly expressed our ambition to make nothing but sustainable circular furniture in the future. A 100% biological chair fits in perfectly with this vision. Using the beautiful, natural material hemp and Plantics bio-resin, this turned out to be possible, resulting in our Hemp Chairs.

Ralph Sagan

Passionate about wood and ecological innovations of the future, he has over 10 years of experience in the furniture industry (production, sales, logistics), which he gained by running companies specializing in:

  • production of luxury furniture made of wood,
  • e-commerce furniture retail
  • furniture fitting

He cooperated with plenty of architectural offices implementing full interior design projects for brands such as: Perła Browary Lubelskie, Business Link, Bashco Trading (UAE). He has also over 3 years of experience in creating IT solutions for industries in the field of interior design and furniture e-commerce.  The experience gained translates into a better understanding of the needs of customers in terms of the materials used and market trends.

Jason Finnis

Jason Finnis is a 30-year veteran of the hemp and natural fibre industries with hands-on experience in all aspects of the value chain. He has a strong background in fibre innovation and is adept at developing intellectual property that leverages the inherent qualities of bast fibres and brings performance and sustainability to the nonwoven and textile industries.

Paul Benhaim

Paul Benhaim has been working in the hemp industry since 1996, approximately when he commissioned the nova-institute for a study on Hemp Plastics. He is now the Chairman of The Hemp Plastic Company (www.hempplastic.com) – the most cost effective manufacturers of hemp filled bio-composites with millions of lbs of capacity. Mr Benhaim is also founder and non-executive director of publicly listed (ASX:EXL) company Elixinol Wellness which owns the largest hemp foods company in the southern hemisphere, as well as one of the first CBD companies in the USA. Based in Australia, Mr Benhaim offers global experience of the hemp industry and is available to support operations from a corporate perspective.

Q&A

15.45-16.15

Break

16.15-17.15

Hemp in the construction products sector

Moderator

Francesco Mirizzi

Currently responsible for agriculture, bioeconomy and environmental policies at the European Industrial Hemp Association, Francesco has a 10 years long experience in working with agrofood policies in Brussels. After 2 years in the liaison office of Puglia region to the EU, he joined the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission for a bluebook traineeship. After two years working for Pernod Ricard SA on health, trade and agricultural policies affecting the spirits and wine sector, he gained a more horizontal and extensive experience within the European Federation of Farmers and Farming Cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca), where he was responsible for the olive & olive oil, flax, cotton, hemp, spirits, wine and hops sectors.

Speakers

Paolo Ronchetti

Paolo is Sales & Marketing director for the Tecnocanapa product range within Senini Srl, a leading industrial player in the production of cement pavers, blocks and curbs based in Montichiari, Italy.

He holds a BSc in Economics and Business from the University of Bergamo and a MSc in Sustainable Development from Dublin Institute of Technology. It is Ireland thanks to his Masters thesis where Paolo started  trying to find the answer to one simple but important question: “what are the limits to the large scale development of hemp lime biocomposites in the construction sector?”.

Inspired by the ‘Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development’ and ‘Future Thinking’, in 2011 he co-founded Equilibrium, the first startup benefit company to promote hemp building as a major solution to health, environmental and performace issues caused by conventional building materials.

In 2018, Equilibrium joined Senini thus making Paolo’s dream real: hemp building as a viable industrial sector with certified and patented products. One of the latest certificates obtained by Tecnocanapa is the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) that officially quantifies hemp building carbon sequestration capacity.

Over the past few years Paolo has been focusing on national and international sales thus making him one of the most experienced hemp building market enhancers in the world.

Mark Reinders

Mark Reinders is CEO of the HempFlax group of companies. He is one of the most creative, practical and experienced professionals in the field of European hemp. Mark tirelessly researches, implements and promotes both environmentally responsible and sustainable manufacturing processes, and new uses for hemp.

Mark grew up on his family’s farm, one of the first to grow hemp for HempFlax. A six month internship at HempFlax in 2002 further encouraged his interest in the long-neglected traditional Dutch crop. Experience at agricultural and recycling companies convinced him that sustainable practices should be implemented right from the beginning of any supply chain. Returning to HempFlax as Vice President in 2008, he has implemented this vision with dedication and success. As CEO, he continues to strive for the highest possible standards. His dedication to innovation in every stage of the hemp process, from seed to finished product, has made HempFlax a world leader in the industry.

Mark is currently CEO of  HempFlax Group of companies and holding the position of  Treasurer of the European Industrial Hemp Association.

Ingmar Nopens

Ingmar Nopens holds a MSc in Bio-science engineering in environmental technology and a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences. He is a full professor at Ghent University leading research in mathematical modelling in the context of resource recovery from water streams. He is an expert in circular economy and digitalization and has a broad interest in system optimization. End of 2022 he joined C-Biotech as process manager, leading the efforts to develop and industrialise sustainable, biobased materials for the construction sector using industrial hemp as biomass. The mission of C-Biotech is to decarbonize the construction sector and contributing to the challenge of net-zero.

17.15-17.30

Closing remarks

Daniel Kruse

Daniel Kruse, a pioneer of the hemp industry for more than 26 years, is founder and managing director of Hempro International GmbH and HempConsult GmbH, two of Europe`s leading hemp players. Kruse has more than 16 years of experience in hemp food production.

Hempro Int. (founded in 2002), one of Europe’s first and largest hemp food companies, produces raw material (seeds, hulled nuts, oil, protein) and offers branded hemp foods under the HANF FARM label.

Based on a strong international network HempConsult (founded 2012) follows industry trends and developments on the global hemp markets, conducts market research and serves entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors and other stakeholders of the industry as a consultant for the development of strategic goals and their successful and sustainable implementation.

Since 2013, Kruse has served as a board member of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). In 2019, he was elected president of EIHA for the first time and re- elected for another term in 2021.

At the EIHA Kruse is particularly active in his field of knowledge of cannabinoids in foods. Already since 2002 he has been working on the topic of THC in food and on CBD since 2012. His cooperation with international experts and the advisory committee of EIHA combines the profound know-how from practice and science in the hemp and food industry. In course of this cooperation, various position papers and studies on THC and CBD in food have been drawn up and published.

Kruse represents industrial hemp stakeholders in front of the European Union and German governments, where his work has helped to advance the legal and regulatory framework for the hemp industry.

Trained as a banker, Kruse studied finance at Green Bay University in Wisconsin (USA) and Duesseldorf (Germany). He opened “HanfHaus,” a retail hemp retail shop in 1996, and in 1999 became Head of Sales as well as partner at HanfHaus GmbH in Berlin. Kruse founded Hempro International in 2002 to advance the development of hemp products, and to realise his vision: the successful combination of ecology and economy.

17.30-19.00

Break

19.00-21.00

Networking dinner

Day 03 - 9 June 2023

08.30-09.00

Registration and welcome coffee

09.00-09.05

Welcoming and introduction

Daniel Kruse

Daniel Kruse, a pioneer of the hemp industry for more than 26 years, is founder and managing director of Hempro International GmbH and HempConsult GmbH, two of Europe`s leading hemp players. Kruse has more than 16 years of experience in hemp food production.

Hempro Int. (founded in 2002), one of Europe’s first and largest hemp food companies, produces raw material (seeds, hulled nuts, oil, protein) and offers branded hemp foods under the HANF FARM label.

Based on a strong international network HempConsult (founded 2012) follows industry trends and developments on the global hemp markets, conducts market research and serves entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors and other stakeholders of the industry as a consultant for the development of strategic goals and their successful and sustainable implementation.

Since 2013, Kruse has served as a board member of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). In 2019, he was elected president of EIHA for the first time and re- elected for another term in 2021.

At the EIHA Kruse is particularly active in his field of knowledge of cannabinoids in foods. Already since 2002 he has been working on the topic of THC in food and on CBD since 2012. His cooperation with international experts and the advisory committee of EIHA combines the profound know-how from practice and science in the hemp and food industry. In course of this cooperation, various position papers and studies on THC and CBD in food have been drawn up and published.

Kruse represents industrial hemp stakeholders in front of the European Union and German governments, where his work has helped to advance the legal and regulatory framework for the hemp industry.

Trained as a banker, Kruse studied finance at Green Bay University in Wisconsin (USA) and Duesseldorf (Germany). He opened “HanfHaus,” a retail hemp retail shop in 1996, and in 1999 became Head of Sales as well as partner at HanfHaus GmbH in Berlin. Kruse founded Hempro International in 2002 to advance the development of hemp products, and to realise his vision: the successful combination of ecology and economy.

cath

Lorenza Romanese

Lorenza is the Managing Director of EIHA. Based in EIHA’s Brussels office, Lorenza is an experienced policy advisor and communication manager at the European level. She has led EIHA’s efforts in Brussels since February 2019, having worked with a number of MEPs to propose reforms affecting hemp in the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy. Lorenza previously advised interests in the oil and gas sector and led the European Association of independent Winegrowers.

Lorenza helped to put together in November 2019 a Consortium of companies in EIHA conducting CBD and THC toxicological studies in humans and animals. She is currently overseeing parts of the regulatory process and scientific approach.

Lorenza was appointed in March 2022 as co-chair of the policy and regulation committee of FIHO (Federation of International Hemp Organizations), a global association that identifies and creates opportunities to scale sustainable hemp production, marketing, and trade.

09.05-10.30

Cannabinoids markets

Moderator
cath

Lorenza Romanese

Lorenza is the Managing Director of EIHA. Based in EIHA’s Brussels office, Lorenza is an experienced policy advisor and communication manager at the European level. She has led EIHA’s efforts in Brussels since February 2019, having worked with a number of MEPs to propose reforms affecting hemp in the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy. Lorenza previously advised interests in the oil and gas sector and led the European Association of independent Winegrowers.

Lorenza helped to put together in November 2019 a Consortium of companies in EIHA conducting CBD and THC toxicological studies in humans and animals. She is currently overseeing parts of the regulatory process and scientific approach.

Lorenza was appointed in March 2022 as co-chair of the policy and regulation committee of FIHO (Federation of International Hemp Organizations), a global association that identifies and creates opportunities to scale sustainable hemp production, marketing, and trade.

Speakers

Antonio Conto

Antonio Conto – biologist and ERT (European Registered Toxicologist) – is ChemSafe CEO and Managing Director. He founded Chemsafe in 2001 after 13 years’ experience in a testing house (Italian toxicological CRO) acting first as Study Monitor of Toxicological studies and later as an International Business Development Manager. Dr. Conto has published more than 100 papers in the regulatory field in various specialized magazines.

Sasha Bajilo

Over the years, Sasha Bajilo’s fascination for the Cannabis plant has grown through extensive multidisciplinary research, focusing on cannabis botany, chemistry, breeding, and cultivation. His dedication to this field has led me to work tirelessly with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), connecting with people in need, media, and government institutions.

With years of experience in the cannabis industry and pro bono work in NGOs, he established Ilesol Pharmaceuticals to create a reliable and professional cannabis business operation. Founded in 2017 as a hemp extraction service provider, Ilesol introduced our first CBD products in early 2018, followed by their Skin Greens cosmetics line in 2021 and food supplements and botanical extracts lines in 2023.

From the outset, their commitment has been to provide clients with specially formulated products, making us the first European à la carte cannabinoid company. Currently, we have established production processes for cosmetic ingredients, food ingredients, and end consumer cosmetic products. Ilesol Pharmaceuticals has also completed project documentation for the pharmaceutical production of API.

The company is certified with ISO 9001, ISO 22000, ISO 22716, HACCP, and is a GMP-certified producer of CBD oils for cosmetics.

His previous work since 2011 included hemp cultivation, designing hemp processing machinery, developing indoor grow operations, selling grow equipment, distributing CBD and providing consultation. His former company, B-Oil, was the first distributor of CBD oils in Croatia in 2014.

As a co-founder of Croatian reference point NGOs Medical Cannabis Association and Hemp Producers Association, his NGO work involved supporting patients and hemp farmers, providing education and consultation pro bono, and engaging with media and the Croatian government. He served as a member of the Health Ministry Commission for Medical Cannabis, contributing to the legalization of medical cannabis use in Croatia in 2015.

In 2015 he has also actively participated in a political parliamentary party’s efforts to legalize recreational cannabis in Croatia, he is co-author of their cannabis policy and author of the cannabis regulatory model.

 

Marcel Bonn-Miller

Dr. Marcel Bonn-Miller earned a BA in psychology and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Vermont and completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine. He began his career at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he held a number of positions including at the National Center for PTSD. After almost a decade within the VA, Dr. Bonn-Miller left to take a position at Zynerba Pharmaceuticals where he served as Director of Cannabinoid Research. After 3 years of work with Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, he joined Canopy Growth Corporation where he served as Vice President, Human and Animal Research. In March, 2023 he joined Charlotte’s Web where he now serves as Chief Scientific Officer.

Widely considered one of the early and leading research pioneers in the field of cannabis and mental health, Dr. Bonn-Miller has conducted seminal work on the interrelations between cannabis and a range of health conditions, including pain, anxiety, HIV, PTSD, and sleep disorders. Dr. Bonn-Miller brings a unique and diverse perspective to cannabinoid therapeutics, having worked within medical center and academic settings for over a decade and with industry for the past 7 years.  He serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals, has published over 150 peer-reviewed empirical publications on cannabis.

Paul Holmes

Paul is a seasoned scientific and regulatory specialist with extensive experience in the cannabis industry. Working for Naturecan, a UK based CBD brand trading globally in many territories, he helps to develop go-to-market strategies around the world for a range of products and cannabinoids.

Prior to joining Naturecan he developed a wealth of experience in laboratory settings, both in technical and commercial roles. With a history of testing for prominent pharmaceutical and tobacco companies, he has amassed a wealth of scientific and regulatory expertise across multiple highly regulated industries including cannabis and tobacco.

Stacey Evans

 As the vice president and general counsel of ElleVet Sciences, Stacey develops legal strategies to market hemp-derived CBD products for companion animals in the United States of America, Latin America, EU, and other countries in Europe. Prior to joining ElleVet Sciences, Stacey worked as an attorney, legislative counsel, and ethics official with the United States Federal Maritime Commission. She is a past-chair the Animal Law Committee of the American Bar Association. In recognition of her leadership in animal health legal and policy issues, Stacey was appointed to serve on the United States Department of Agriculture Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health from 2012-2015. 

Stacey holds a juris doctorate from Tulane Law School. 

10.30-10.45

Break

10.45-12.00

Hemp food markets

Moderator
cath

Lorenza Romanese

Lorenza is the Managing Director of EIHA. Based in EIHA’s Brussels office, Lorenza is an experienced policy advisor and communication manager at the European level. She has led EIHA’s efforts in Brussels since February 2019, having worked with a number of MEPs to propose reforms affecting hemp in the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy. Lorenza previously advised interests in the oil and gas sector and led the European Association of independent Winegrowers.

Lorenza helped to put together in November 2019 a Consortium of companies in EIHA conducting CBD and THC toxicological studies in humans and animals. She is currently overseeing parts of the regulatory process and scientific approach.

Lorenza was appointed in March 2022 as co-chair of the policy and regulation committee of FIHO (Federation of International Hemp Organizations), a global association that identifies and creates opportunities to scale sustainable hemp production, marketing, and trade.

Speakers

Daniel Kruse

Daniel Kruse, a pioneer of the hemp industry for more than 26 years, is founder and managing director of Hempro International GmbH and HempConsult GmbH, two of Europe`s leading hemp players. Kruse has more than 16 years of experience in hemp food production.

Hempro Int. (founded in 2002), one of Europe’s first and largest hemp food companies, produces raw material (seeds, hulled nuts, oil, protein) and offers branded hemp foods under the HANF FARM label.

Based on a strong international network HempConsult (founded 2012) follows industry trends and developments on the global hemp markets, conducts market research and serves entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors and other stakeholders of the industry as a consultant for the development of strategic goals and their successful and sustainable implementation.

Since 2013, Kruse has served as a board member of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). In 2019, he was elected president of EIHA for the first time and re- elected for another term in 2021.

At the EIHA Kruse is particularly active in his field of knowledge of cannabinoids in foods. Already since 2002 he has been working on the topic of THC in food and on CBD since 2012. His cooperation with international experts and the advisory committee of EIHA combines the profound know-how from practice and science in the hemp and food industry. In course of this cooperation, various position papers and studies on THC and CBD in food have been drawn up and published.

Kruse represents industrial hemp stakeholders in front of the European Union and German governments, where his work has helped to advance the legal and regulatory framework for the hemp industry.

Trained as a banker, Kruse studied finance at Green Bay University in Wisconsin (USA) and Duesseldorf (Germany). He opened “HanfHaus,” a retail hemp retail shop in 1996, and in 1999 became Head of Sales as well as partner at HanfHaus GmbH in Berlin. Kruse founded Hempro International in 2002 to advance the development of hemp products, and to realise his vision: the successful combination of ecology and economy.

Annick Van Overstraeten

Annick Van Overstraeten is CEO of Le Pain Quotidien (Company Owned Stores & Master Franchises worldwide) since July 2020. From 2010 until 2020 she was the CEO of Lunch Garden Group and member of the executive Board of Directors. Before, she also headed as General Director Operations at Quick Restaurants BELUX (from 2004 until 2009), and she gained 5 years of experience as Commercial and Marketing Director at Leonidas NV (she started as manager of 30 establishments after which she had the opportunity to grow). Furthermore she is member of the Steering Committee of FEB (Federation of Enterprises in Belgium), she is Board member of Bemora, member of the Board of Directors of Euro Shoe Group, member of the Board of Directors of QSR Belgium, Board member and member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee of Immobel and member of the Board of Directors of Financière de Tubize.

Florian Pichlmaier

After completing his Bachelor in Business Law (LL.B.) in Germany and Master of Law (LL.M.) in England, Florian was involved in auditing startups and venture capital firms at KPMG. During his studies, he founded numerous startups with the vision of making people’s lives easier and healthier by providing high-quality products or services.

During his studies, he also worked in Brussels at the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, where he gained his first experience of international politics, lobbying and legal development, which he has since been able to use for the hemp industry.

He also had the opportunity to work for an international investment law firm in Shanghai for a year and gain cultural and legal experience in a country that is considered as the largest industrial hemp cultivation area.

After Florian had convinced himself of the health effects of CBD in his university time, he also wanted to make hemp available to his friends, which earned him positive feedback. Together with his friend Tobias, this led him to the idea of offering everyone access to legal, high-quality industrial hemp at fair prices and transparent processes. This resulted in the founding of Signature Products. Today Florian leads the company as CEO mainly in the area of business development. In 2022, Florian was appointed to the management board of Europe’s largest hemp association EIHA and named by Forbes as one of the 30 most influential people under 30 who will have an impact on the future.

Florian has managed to build Signature Products into one of the leading industrial hemp companies in Europe, growing industrial hemp, processing and trading the hemp ingredients, but also conducting in-depth research with leading universities from sowing seed to finished product.

Vincent Lartizien

Les Chanvres de l’Atlantique was created in 2016, under the impulse of Vincent Lartizien, ex-professional surfer, who after more than 20 years playing on the biggest waves of the great Oceans ot our planet, made the tollowing observation : it is up to us to act and improve everything that goes wrong in our world. But in order to act. he needs a tool and hemp comes as an obvious one.

The mission becomes clear : To nourish the health of all, through Hemp/Cannabis.

 

Q&A

12.00-14.30

Networking lunch

14.30-15.45

Impact of the legalization of recreational cannabis on the hemp sector

Moderator

Kai-Friedrich Niermann

Kai has been a business and corporate lawyer in Germany since 2003, gaining wide range of experiences in the process. He is very familiar with the interconnectivity between national and European regulations, especially in regard to consumer protection, product safety and emerging new cannabis products. He has engaged in advocacy relating to cannabis beginning in early stages of his studies at Philipps University Marburg when the German Supreme Court ruled that small amounts of cannabis should not be criminalized. After medical cannabis was legalized, Kai started a legal blog (canna-biz.legal) on all the relevant new developments in the emerging cannabis market and became a legal expert especially for CBD products. He regularly speaks at international cannabis conferences on topics of the German and European legal framework for cannabis. He regularly publishes articles in BusinessCann, Krautinvest and German law journals. Kai and his law firm KFN+ advise major CBD and medical cannabis companies, as well as companies interested in the emerging recreational cannabis market in Germany.

Kai is also legal advisor to the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), which is working on a Novel Food joint application for different CBD products, and advisory board member of the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA).

 

Memberships: German Bar Association (DAV), International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA, Member of Advisory Board), European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), German Hemp Association (DHV), Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP Germany), Branchenverband Cannabiswirtschaft (BvCW).

 

Born in Löhne/Westf. in 1972, studied law at the Universities of Marburg, Adelaide (Australia), Cologne, legal expert at the press center of the German Federal Diet, worked for the Berlin District Court, for the Director of Public Prosecution in Berlin, for the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Hong Kong Consulate General.

Speakers

Viktor Mravčík

He graduated at the Medical Faculty at Palacky University in Olomouc in 1993. In 1997 and 2000 he received specialisations in hygiene and epidemiology and epidemiology. He received his PhD in preventive medicine in 2013 and he has been nominated associate professor in 2018 at the 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University. He is a lecturer, researcher and member of the board for doctoral programme in addiction science at the Department for addictology, 1st Medical Faculty of the Charles University. He is the Head of research at NGO Společnost Podané ruce in Brno. In 2002-2021, he was the Head of the Czech National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addictions at the Office of the Government, he was the main author and editor of the national reports on substance use and addictions. He has published a number of scientific and policy papers. His main interests are prevalence, patterns and consequences of substance use and addiction policies. Since 2022, he is the scientific advisor of the Czech National Drug Coordinator and a member of the core group preparing drug policy reforms including decriminalization and legal regulation of cannabis.

Daniel Kruse

Daniel Kruse, a pioneer of the hemp industry for more than 26 years, is founder and managing director of Hempro International GmbH and HempConsult GmbH, two of Europe`s leading hemp players. Kruse has more than 16 years of experience in hemp food production.

Hempro Int. (founded in 2002), one of Europe’s first and largest hemp food companies, produces raw material (seeds, hulled nuts, oil, protein) and offers branded hemp foods under the HANF FARM label.

Based on a strong international network HempConsult (founded 2012) follows industry trends and developments on the global hemp markets, conducts market research and serves entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors and other stakeholders of the industry as a consultant for the development of strategic goals and their successful and sustainable implementation.

Since 2013, Kruse has served as a board member of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). In 2019, he was elected president of EIHA for the first time and re- elected for another term in 2021.

At the EIHA Kruse is particularly active in his field of knowledge of cannabinoids in foods. Already since 2002 he has been working on the topic of THC in food and on CBD since 2012. His cooperation with international experts and the advisory committee of EIHA combines the profound know-how from practice and science in the hemp and food industry. In course of this cooperation, various position papers and studies on THC and CBD in food have been drawn up and published.

Kruse represents industrial hemp stakeholders in front of the European Union and German governments, where his work has helped to advance the legal and regulatory framework for the hemp industry.

Trained as a banker, Kruse studied finance at Green Bay University in Wisconsin (USA) and Duesseldorf (Germany). He opened “HanfHaus,” a retail hemp retail shop in 1996, and in 1999 became Head of Sales as well as partner at HanfHaus GmbH in Berlin. Kruse founded Hempro International in 2002 to advance the development of hemp products, and to realise his vision: the successful combination of ecology and economy.

Hana Gabrielovà

Hana Gabrielová is a 20-year veteran within the hemp industry. In 2010 she establish her company Hempoint s.r.o. which is heavily engaged in distribution of EU registered hemp seed varieties internationally, in North America represented by USA company konopiUS. Hempoint provides consulting on all steps of the hemp value chain from farming, processing till the end of different kinds of products. Hempoint help contracts farmers and also distributes organic hemp food and feed ingredients. Hana works also as president of the CzecHemp cluster since 2018, NGO involved in the strategy of hemp and cannabis policy development in the Czech Republic. In 2020 she co-founded Hemp the Climate, pioneering non-profit organization and think tank that provides strategic advice to businesses and collaborates with multilateral and non-governmental organizations to accelerate the use of hemp for climate resilience.

15.45-16.00

Break

16.00-17.15

Emerging hemp markets at the global level

Moderator
cath

Lorenza Romanese

Lorenza is the Managing Director of EIHA. Based in EIHA’s Brussels office, Lorenza is an experienced policy advisor and communication manager at the European level. She has led EIHA’s efforts in Brussels since February 2019, having worked with a number of MEPs to propose reforms affecting hemp in the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy. Lorenza previously advised interests in the oil and gas sector and led the European Association of independent Winegrowers.

Lorenza helped to put together in November 2019 a Consortium of companies in EIHA conducting CBD and THC toxicological studies in humans and animals. She is currently overseeing parts of the regulatory process and scientific approach.

Lorenza was appointed in March 2022 as co-chair of the policy and regulation committee of FIHO (Federation of International Hemp Organizations), a global association that identifies and creates opportunities to scale sustainable hemp production, marketing, and trade.

Speakers

Ted Haney

Ted is an international agri-business executive with 30 years of visionary leadership. He currently represents the Canadian hemp industry in both domestic and international markets. He previously managed the establishment of an international Italian Meats production and processing business. Ted represented international livestock and meat sustainability priorities at the United Nations. He created an international beef export company, based on Canadian brand strengths. Ted managed Canada’s national beef export organization in a diverse cultural environment for 20 years.

Ted is dedicated to open and participatory democratic institutions, and takes a candid and forthright approach in dealing with all levels of industry and government to resolve issues. Ted is a straight-talking and passionate leader.

Daniel Kruse

Daniel Kruse, a pioneer of the hemp industry for more than 26 years, is founder and managing director of Hempro International GmbH and HempConsult GmbH, two of Europe`s leading hemp players. Kruse has more than 16 years of experience in hemp food production.

Hempro Int. (founded in 2002), one of Europe’s first and largest hemp food companies, produces raw material (seeds, hulled nuts, oil, protein) and offers branded hemp foods under the HANF FARM label.

Based on a strong international network HempConsult (founded 2012) follows industry trends and developments on the global hemp markets, conducts market research and serves entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors and other stakeholders of the industry as a consultant for the development of strategic goals and their successful and sustainable implementation.

Since 2013, Kruse has served as a board member of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). In 2019, he was elected president of EIHA for the first time and re- elected for another term in 2021.

At the EIHA Kruse is particularly active in his field of knowledge of cannabinoids in foods. Already since 2002 he has been working on the topic of THC in food and on CBD since 2012. His cooperation with international experts and the advisory committee of EIHA combines the profound know-how from practice and science in the hemp and food industry. In course of this cooperation, various position papers and studies on THC and CBD in food have been drawn up and published.

Kruse represents industrial hemp stakeholders in front of the European Union and German governments, where his work has helped to advance the legal and regulatory framework for the hemp industry.

Trained as a banker, Kruse studied finance at Green Bay University in Wisconsin (USA) and Duesseldorf (Germany). He opened “HanfHaus,” a retail hemp retail shop in 1996, and in 1999 became Head of Sales as well as partner at HanfHaus GmbH in Berlin. Kruse founded Hempro International in 2002 to advance the development of hemp products, and to realise his vision: the successful combination of ecology and economy.

Beau Whitney

 Beau Whitney is the founder and Chief Economist at Whitney Economics, a global leader in cannabis and hemp business consulting, data, and economic research. Whitney Economics is based in Portland, Oregon. 

Serving an international clientele, Beau is considered one of the leading cannabis economists in the U.S. and globally. His applications of economic principles to create actionable operational and policy recommendations has been recognized by governments, and throughout the economic, investment, business communities. In 2022, Beau presented data and insights about cannabis and hemp economics at the United Nations. 

His white papers analyzing the adult-use, medical and industrial cannabis markets have been referenced in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today, the Associated Press, as well as in leading cannabis industry publications. 

Beau Whitney is a member of the American Economic Association, the Oregon chapter president of the National Association for Business Economics, is a member of multiple regulatory advisory committees throughout the U.S. and participates on the Oregon Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors. 

Beau has provided policy recommendations at the state, national and international levels and is considered an authority on cannabis economics and the supply chain. 

David Katerere

Prof David Katerere is the Research Platform Chair of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Advancement in Africa (PBA2) at Tshwane University of Technology. He is co-director of the recently established CSIR / TUT Cannabis Research Centre.

Prof Katerere holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland.  He has worked in pharmaceutical and biotech practice and research in the past 25 years in 4 countries on 3 continents. He has several inventions to his name including the nutraceutical, Niselo and CovidConnect App for use in clinical trials and post-recovery and KovaNix hand and surface sanitizer.  He has published over 50 journal articles and is co-editor of three books: Ethnoveterinary Botanical Medicines (T&F) (2010), Systems Analysis Approach for Complex Global Challenges (Springer) (2018) and Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for the Modern Era (T&F) (2019).

He is a member of advisory committees of SAHPRA and the Global Health Supply Chain Consortium, co-founded by faculty at University of Michigan and University of Southern California. Prof Katerere teaches and researches across the pharmaceutical and biotech value chain including product development from medicinal plants (for food, nutraceuticals and medicines) and clinical testing, substandard and falsified medicines / vaccines and medicine governance.

He is a past competitive Toastmaster and President of Pretoria Capital Rotary Club.

17.15-17.30

Conclusions

Daniel Kruse

Daniel Kruse, a pioneer of the hemp industry for more than 26 years, is founder and managing director of Hempro International GmbH and HempConsult GmbH, two of Europe`s leading hemp players. Kruse has more than 16 years of experience in hemp food production.

Hempro Int. (founded in 2002), one of Europe’s first and largest hemp food companies, produces raw material (seeds, hulled nuts, oil, protein) and offers branded hemp foods under the HANF FARM label.

Based on a strong international network HempConsult (founded 2012) follows industry trends and developments on the global hemp markets, conducts market research and serves entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors and other stakeholders of the industry as a consultant for the development of strategic goals and their successful and sustainable implementation.

Since 2013, Kruse has served as a board member of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). In 2019, he was elected president of EIHA for the first time and re- elected for another term in 2021.

At the EIHA Kruse is particularly active in his field of knowledge of cannabinoids in foods. Already since 2002 he has been working on the topic of THC in food and on CBD since 2012. His cooperation with international experts and the advisory committee of EIHA combines the profound know-how from practice and science in the hemp and food industry. In course of this cooperation, various position papers and studies on THC and CBD in food have been drawn up and published.

Kruse represents industrial hemp stakeholders in front of the European Union and German governments, where his work has helped to advance the legal and regulatory framework for the hemp industry.

Trained as a banker, Kruse studied finance at Green Bay University in Wisconsin (USA) and Duesseldorf (Germany). He opened “HanfHaus,” a retail hemp retail shop in 1996, and in 1999 became Head of Sales as well as partner at HanfHaus GmbH in Berlin. Kruse founded Hempro International in 2002 to advance the development of hemp products, and to realise his vision: the successful combination of ecology and economy.